Process Team Announcement

Summary This letter announces the names of the Process Team (PT) and PT Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is the central sensing body of the PT, holding the view and helping facilitate the activities, processes, and communications of the PT. It is not a mandala-wide decision-making body. The following four topics have been requested by the Shambhala sangha for focused conversation and action: Healing and Learning, Culture Change, Governance Structures, and Community Building (including exploring with those students of the Vidyadhara who feel marginalized). The TTF is also creating a Mandala Linkage Group to ensure ongoing communications between the PT and the leaders of key areas within the Shambhala mandala. The PT will take an oath (see below) next week to work diligently to further the vision of enlightened society and basic goodness. Dear Worldwide Shambhala Community,

It has been over six months since our earthshaking wake-up call — news of financial mismanagement and allegations of sexual misconduct and power abuse. The Interim Board, in place just over 3 months, has wholeheartedly stepped into their challenging job, volunteering numerous hours every week. Though the situation is troublesome, this is also a unique time for deep self-reflection and an incredible opportunity for social transformation.

The Transition Task Force (TTF) is pleased to announce the 82 member Shambhala Process Team (PT), 11 of whom will serve on its Steering Committee. This global group has stepped forward with longing to help us discover how we can continue forward movement and become stronger. They will lead the global Shambhala community in an exploration of what is necessary to reveal fresh relevance and needed changes.

The Steering Committee is the central sensing body of the PT, holding the view and helping facilitate the activities, processes, and communications of the PT. It is not a mandala-wide decision-making body. As a sensing team, the Steering Committee will organize with the PT to gather people to listen, dialogue, and evoke wisdom in communities throughout the sangha. Over the past six months, the following topics have been most frequently shared with the TTF or requested by the Shambhala sangha for focused conversation and action:

Healing and Learning – working with personal and societal trauma in Shambhala

Culture Change – revealing pathways for diversity and inclusion

Governance Structure and Sustainability – reviewing structures that are less top down and more sustainable

Community Building – establishing avenues for an integrated and harmonious sangha, including those who feel marginalized. One subset of this topic area includes exploring with those students of the Vidyadhara who feel marginalized.

As the PT evolves, other leaders at regional and local levels are likely to emerge, some of whom are part of the PT and others who will complement its work. The TTF is in the process of creating a Mandala Linkage Group. The purpose of this group is to ensure ongoing communications between the leaders of key areas within the Shambhala mandala and the Steering Committee and Process Team. More information on this will be forthcoming. There is much wisdom to uncover as we ask ourselves, “How can we be a living example of enlightened society within a world that is becoming more polarized and disconnected from the magic of the natural world?”

The PT represents a range of Shambhalians with diverse social identities. PT members have a variety of professional skills, personal interests, and full-heartedness to help our community. * The PT is not a mandala decision-making body. Its job is to listen, sense, and explore, to protype and eventually make recommendations. They will take an oath (see below) next week to work diligently to further the vision of enlightened society and basic goodness.

We will be in touch again shortly with a few more details regarding the Process Team and its work with the greater Shambhala mandala. For now, we offer our thanks to the Shambhala Process Team members for stepping forward and to you, the community, for supporting their work. We ask that you be patient as the Steering Committee and the Process Team get to know one another and build working relationships in order to manifest what we aspire toward. The journey itself must manifest our vision, a vibrant community that is inclusive and just. Please extend your welcome, gratitude, and support to the Process Team.

Process Team Oath Calling upon the lineages and dralas of Buddhadharma and Shambhala warriorship to support me in this oath, I, [name], as a member of the Shambhala Process Team, pledge to work diligently to further the vision of enlightened society and basic goodness.

I further pledge to

apply gentleness, fearlessness, and intelligence in all my activities on the Process Team, continue my own practice and study while I serve, faithfully represent the wisdom of the lineage, the teachings, and the community as I understand it, and refrain from using this position for personal gain.

If I am unable to fulfil these pledges, I request that I be removed from the Process Team.